Find Ethiopian Coffee With Dark Horse Coffee Roasters
While Arabica coffee beans are grown throughout the world—and offer a wide range of unique flavor profiles—these plants can all be traced back to Ethiopia. As the birthplace of Arabica coffee plants, Ethiopia has a long history with this globally-treasured product.
Long ago, people from this region would collect and prepare beans from natural plants growing in the wild. But by the 1500s, communities began to cultivate coffee plants, which helped the species grow stronger and preserve its best qualities.
The domestic product remains a central part of Ethiopian culture, which is exemplified by their unique “coffee ceremony” practice. In traditional households, this intergenerational ritual typically involves a daily gathering in which Ethiopian coffee is roasted, brewed, and served to friends and family.
Today, Ethiopian coffee beans are distributed internationally to provide a vibrantly delicious cup of joe in cafes and kitchens across the world. Here’s what to know about this type of coffee, what to expect when you drink it, and how you can find the best Ethiopian coffee straight from the source.
What is Ethiopian Coffee?
Ethiopia coffee beans come from Arabica plants—widely considered to be the superior species of all coffee plants. The resulting flavor can depend on the region where the beans are cultivated and can vary greatly. But in general, these beans produce roasts with a higher acidity and medium body with chocolate, floral tasting notes. Ethiopian coffee is also known for its fragrant and pleasant aroma, which is sure to wake anyone up well before they’ve taken a sip.
Where to Buy Ethiopian Coffee Beans?
Ethiopia is the world’s fifth largest coffee producer and the country has plans to greatly ramp up its exports in the coming years. With such heavy production, Ethiopian roasts are easily found in cafes and stores in most markets.
However, if you want to fill your mug with the best Ethiopian coffee, it’s best to look to retailers that offer single-origin products from specialty roasters. Single-origin beans come from one agricultural producer, so the flavor isn’t compromised. They also tend to be grown in more limited quantities, which can help preserve the beans’ specific characteristics.
If you want to find incredibly delicious, yet affordable single-origin Ethiopian coffee, shop Dark Horse Coffee at LaJolla.com. Here, you can buy a fresh assortment of single-origin and direct-trade roasts made from beans grown throughout the world, conveniently shipped to your door.
Shop Our Selection of Ethiopian Coffee from Dark Horse Coffee Roasters
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters started in San Diego and continue to operate several popular shops throughout the local area. Dedicated to preserving coffee’s unique and varying qualities through direct-trade practices, this local business sources and roasts coffee beans with incredible care and attention to detail.
As an Ethiopian coffee roaster, Dark Horse brings out the very best of this country’s historic coffee production through their products.
To get a complete grasp on this country’s coffee flavor, order Dark Horse’s single-origin Ethiopian roast. These beans are sourced from a farm in Ethiopia’s Jimma region and deliver a robust flavor profile that’s punctuated by raspberry punch, tropical, and peach tea notes.
If you want to see how Ethiopian coffee can enhance beans from other regions, try an Ethiopian blend. Dark Horse Coffee Roasters offer the Odd Harmonics Blend to complement the very best flavors of Ethiopian and Guatemalan coffee. It’s known to carry a balanced chocolate flavor with a hint of strawberry sweetness.
What Is Special About Ethiopian Coffee?
The vast majority of global coffee plants can be traced back to those grown in Ethiopia. As a result, the plants grown in this African country hold the largest range of genetic variation. This diversity allows Ethiopian growers to deliver beans with complex and vastly differing flavor compositions.
What Does Ethiopian Coffee Taste Like?
Overall, Ethiopian coffee beans make roasts with a winey, chocolatey flavor and higher acidity. Typically, Ethiopian coffee roasting is kept light to preserve their hints of caramel and rich sweetness.
More distinct flavor notes are associated with beans produced in specific regions. For example, Sidamo region coffee beans offer gentle cane sugar and berry qualities. Yirgacheffe beans, on the other hand, are more nutty and feature elevated floral and citrus notes. Harrar region beans deliver a taste that falls closer to dark chocolate.
Is Ethiopian Coffee Strong?
With its rich, pungent aroma and higher acidity levels, Ethiopian coffee does produce a relatively strong cup. But while each roast may deliver a strong-tasting brew, it’s not necessarily very high in caffeine. As an Arabica bean, you can expect Ethiopian coffee to deliver a standard caffeine content level around 1.1%. This percentage is caffeinating enough for a pleasant kick of energy, but mild enough to enjoy more than one cup throughout the day without overdoing it.
Once you know where you want to buy your Ethiopian coffee, it’s time to start thinking about how you want to enjoy this prized roast. Like most Arabicas, Ethiopian coffee beans can be prepared in a variety of ways—such as a refreshing cold brew or delightful espresso. But if you want to highlight all the flavors of a roast, try a pour-over method.
And while the coffee is incredibly enjoyable when served black, you can always twist it up with a pinch of salt, sugar, or even butter—all ways that Ethiopians like to have it during their coffee ceremonies.
Shop Our Selection of Ethiopian Coffee from Dark Horse Coffee Roasters
Image and video courtesy of Dark Horse Coffee Roasters.
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